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Astronomy Picture of the Day 3-11-03
NASA ^
| 3-11-03
| Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Posted on 03/11/2003 3:26:03 AM PST by petuniasevan
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2003 March 11
Iridescent Clouds
Credit & Copyright: Arne Danielsen
Explanation: Why would clouds appear to be different colors? A relatively rare phenomenon known as iridescent clouds can show unusual colors vividly or a whole spectrum of colors simultaneously. These clouds are formed of small water droplets of nearly uniform size. When the Sun is in the right position and mostly hidden by thick clouds, these thinner clouds significantly diffract sunlight in a nearly coherent manner, with different colors being deflected by different amounts. Therefore, different colors will come to the observer from slightly different directions. Many clouds start with uniform regions that could show iridescence but quickly become too thick, too mixed, or too far from the Sun to exhibit striking colors. Pictured above, iridescent clouds were photographed over Norway two months ago.
TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: clouds; colors; diffraction; droplets; image; iridescent; photography; rainbow; solar; sun; water
Click on this link
Atmospheric Optics to learn more about these and other atmospheric phenomena.
Some more examples of iridescent clouds:
To: MozartLover; Joan912; NovemberCharlie; snowfox; Dawgsquat; viligantcitizen; theDentist; ...
2
posted on
03/11/2003 3:27:06 AM PST
by
petuniasevan
(cogito, ergo spud: I think, therefore I yam...)
To: petuniasevan
Mornin' ! . . .
3
posted on
03/11/2003 4:22:47 AM PST
by
MeekOneGOP
(Bu-bye Saddam! / Check out my Freeper site !: http://home.attbi.com/~freeper/wsb/index.html)
To: petuniasevan
Thanks for the ping...Good morning
4
posted on
03/11/2003 4:37:19 AM PST
by
firewalk
To: petuniasevan
Beautiful!
5
posted on
03/11/2003 4:57:01 AM PST
by
GodBlessRonaldReagan
(where is Count Petofi when we need him most?)
To: petuniasevan
Good job APOD! My favorite site.
To: petuniasevan
AAaaahhhhhh! Much better now!
To: Vic3O3; cavtrooper21
Check it out!
Semper Fi
8
posted on
03/11/2003 6:52:15 AM PST
by
dd5339
(Lookout Texas here we come!)
To: petuniasevan
First noticed this phenomenon when I moved to Fairbanks many years ago. Don't know if it is more easily visible at northern latitudes, but clouds are always iridescent here every day there are thin clouds in front of the sun. The alternating green-purple display is most common. Not everyone can see the colors, just as not everyone can see the colors in stars.
9
posted on
03/11/2003 9:22:31 AM PST
by
RightWhale
(Theorems link concepts: Proofs establish links)
To: petuniasevan
We first saw these round our area a few years ago. The locals went crazy and started phoning TV stations saying the world was gonna end etc..
I'd say they look more spectacular viewing them with the naked eye.
10
posted on
03/11/2003 11:28:53 AM PST
by
widgysoft
(< Woo and Yay! >)
To: petuniasevan
I've never seen this before.
It's beautiful.
Thanks for the ping.
11
posted on
03/11/2003 1:11:58 PM PST
by
sistergoldenhair
(Don't be a sheep. People hate sheep. They eat sheep.)
To: petuniasevan
Gorgeous!!
To: petuniasevan
Very cool stuff..must remember to keep my EYES ON THE ROAD now..!
Thanks bud...
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